Consumer Wars

Round One . . .
A couple of weeks ago I purchased two different baby gates at Toys-R-Us and kept the receipt since I wasn't sure if either would work. One was $20 and the other $67. Adam helped me with the gate, and we both decided the $20 one was not only fine, but a lot less difficult to install. So I took the $67 gate back to the store only to be told that my receipt was incomplete . . . for some reason only the date, a survey, & the total sale were printed on it. I told the clerk that it was all I had been given. She informed me that the rest of the receipt should have been attached . . . I agreed with this, but I attempted to convince her that it was all I had been given. She then said I could only have store credit instead of a refund since I did not have the receipt. I asked nicely to see the manager who did believe me and agreed to refund my money.

Round two . . .
Last Saturday I went to Grease Monkey for an oil change. I was asked if I wanted some deluxe service package, & I responded that I just wanted an oil change. I took a seat inside as instructed & in about two minutes I was informed that I needed new windshield wipers. I agreed to have them put on. A couple of minutes later I was asked if I wanted my transmission fluid cleaned or replaced or something like that. I repeated that I just wanted an oil change and now new wiper blades. It wasn't long before a mechanic came out to see if I wanted my tires rotated. I said no. Shortly someone brings me two filters from my car, shows me they are dirty, & tells me I really need to replace at least one of them. I agree to that & inform him that I cannot afford anything further. So my simple oil change cost me around $100. It might have been cheaper to just agree to the deluxe package in the first place!

Round three . . .
At the end of the summer two years ago I bought a power washer at Walmart for $88 so that I could wash & seal my deck. I have used this washer about three times, & yesterday the machine smoked and burned. I loaded it in the box and trotted out to Walmart customer service. Of course I did not have the receipt since the machine was nearly two years old; however, I do believe it should have lasted for more that three uses. Anyway, I was told this is an item Walmart no longer carries, & that they best they could do was to give me the toll free number for Black & Decker. People began lining up at customer service, & I wasn't budging. I told the clerk I did not want to wait weeks or months to get a replacement from Black & Decker since I was currently in the process of cleaning & sealing my deck. I calmly asked to see the manager. A guy behind me was giving me encouragement by telling me that his family had the same problem with the exact same washer. They had contacted Black & Decker & waited for months for it to be replaced. After some time the manager arrives & reiterates the store policy. I explain to him that I needed a replacement power washer, a refund, or store credit. He then agreed to let me replace it with $88 credit & explains that if I chose a replacement that exceeds $88 I will have to pay the difference. I tell him that I understand & thank him. I finally find a power washer for under $150 . . . it is $84 . . .& take it back to customer service. The clerk there then tells me that it has to exceed $88 to be exchanged. I tell her that I do not want to pay an addition $60+ to exchange it & that it's fine with me to do an even exchange . . . I will forfeit the $4. She is convinced that she cannot do this, but while she is giving me a hard time about it, the manager approaches. He tells her it is fine for me to exchange the $84 washer for the $88 washer & instructs her to refund the difference to me. So I come home a little happier with a new power washer & $4 to boot!